Download Cell Transport Problem Solving

Biology 12 Date: _________________
Cell Transport Problem Solving Answer Key
1.) Two identical red blood cell samples were prepared for an experiment. The samples
were
placed in two different solutions and the percent change in mass was recorded and
graphed
over an eight hour period as shown below.
a) Account for the change in mass of the cells in Solution A during the first four hours.
(2 marks)
Solution A is hypotonic to the red blood cell, so water goes in
b) What happened to the cells in Solution A after four hours? (1 mark)
Lysis
c) A sample of cells from Solution B (at five hours) was
examined under the microscope.
Explain why they appear as in the diagram above. (2 marks)
Water left the cell
d) Give one reason for the results obtained from the cells placed in
Solution B between three
and eight hours. (1 mark)
There is a balance in concentration inside and outside of the cell.
2.) In an experiment , cells of a unicellular alga (simple plant) are placed in two different
salt solutions. Graph A and B indicate the water gained or lost by the cells in these two
solutions. (8 marks)
Graph A
Algal cells in 0.05%
Salt Solution
Water
Gained
2
4
6
8
Time(minutes)
0
Water
Lost
Graph B
Algal cells in 5%
Salt Solution
a) Describe how the tonicity (concentration) of the 0.05% salt solution (graph A)
compares with the tonicity of the algal cells at the start of the experiment. Using data
from the graph, give reasons to support your answer (2 marks)
0.05% is hypotonic solution (less solutes), so water went into algal cells (more solutes)
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Biology 12 Date: _________________
b) Describe what is happening to the algal cells in the 5% salt solution (graph B) after 4
minutes and explain why. (2 marks)
5% is hypertonic, so water left the algal cell into water was left
c) Describe what would happen to red blood cells if they were immersed in the 0.05%
solution (Graph A) and explain why. (2 marks)
0.05% is hypotonic solution (less solutes), so water will go into red blood cells (more
solutes).
d) Explain why graph A levels off after about three minutes in the 0.05% solution. (2
marks)
no more water can go in, the cell wall of algal plants holds the cell together.
3.) A plant cell is placed in an unknown salt solution. The cell membrane is impermeable
to salt. The graph represents the change in salt concentration within the cell. (8
marks)
0.9%
% Salt
within cell
0.8%
0.7%
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Time (hours)
a) Describe the concentration (or tonicity) of the solution which surrounds the plant cell
at 0.5 hours (1 mark)
hypotonic
b) Explain the results shown on the graph between 0.5 hours and 2.0 hours (2 marks)
hypotonic, so water moves into cell diluting salt concentration
c) Explain the results shown on the graph between 2.0 hours and 4.0 hours (2 mark)
dissolved solutes are equal so no net movement of water
d) If salt were added to the solution surrounding the cell at hour 4.0, describe how the
graph would appear and explain your answer (3 marks)
% salt in the cell would increase because the outside is made hypertonic due to the
addition of salt, so water moves out of the cell
e) Describe the appearance of the plant cell after salt was added to the solution (1mark)
a concentrated cytoplasm
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Biology 12 Date: _________________
4. Four thistle tubes are partially filled with salt
solutions of various concentrations and sealed with
membranes that are permeable to water but
impermeable to salt. Each thistle tube is then placed in
a beaker containing a 2% salt solution. The
experiment is left for two hours. The diagrams show
the appearance of each thistle tube at the start of the
experiment and at the end of two hours. For each tube,
explain what caused the differences in levels observed
after two hours. Give reasons to support your answer.
(4 marks)
The thistle tube one contains less solute than 2% salt
solution. 2% salt solution is hypertonic.
The thistle tube two contains more solute than 2% salt
solution. 2% salt solution is hypontonic.
The thistle tube three contains more solute than both 2% salt solution and the solution in
thistle two. 2% salt solution is hypontonic.
The thistle tube four is isotonic to 2% salt solution. No net movement of water.
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